Texans-Falcons Trade In The Works?

[HPF Bob]

Jadeveon Clowney is spending extended time with the Atlanta Falcons this week, raising the possibility that the Texans and Falcons might work out a trade for the overall number one draft pick.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/sto...-falcons-again

On the surface, all parties seem to be agreeable to this with the terms themselves apt to be the main sticking point and whether the Texans might get better offers.

Even though Fanspeak in their simulator often pitches the Falcons sending their first four picks to Houston, I don't think that will be all that likely. I could see Houston getting the first three (1-6, 2-5 and 3-4) or perhaps (1-6, 2-5 and 4-3) or perhaps next year's first thrown in (1-6, 2-5 and Atlanta's #1 in 2015.

I think the Texans would really prefer to take Khalil Mack or Blake Bortles. I don't think Mack will tumble that far but Bortles might and the Texans may be just as happy to have the extra picks and either OLB Anthony Barr or OTs Greg Robinson or Jake Matthews.

If the Texans have six players acceptable to them, I could see them making this trade. If there isn't, however, there may still be one more option: the Eli Manning option. After Manning was taken by San Diego, the Chargers dealt him to the Giants before the first round was over.

Let's say the Texans and Falcons put a deal in place but the Texans will only agree to it if the Falcons have the chance to choose Mack and/or Bortles. In that scenario, the Texans will choose Clowney at 1/1 and wait until the Falcons are on the clock. Then the Falcons will choose, say, Bortles and then both teams will announce they have traded Clowney for Bortles plus the remaining Atlanta picks pre-agreed before the draft began. That way, both teams are ensured of getting what they want and if the Falcons don't have a good choice at #6 then the deal is off and the Texans keep Clowney and the Falcons can make their pick at #6 for themselves.

The only downside to such an arrangement is that if someone else came forward with a better trade, the Texans would likely refuse out of consideration to Atlanta.

I think conditional deals are discussed with teams before the draft routinely but they are rarely revealed to the public because there is no point in upsetting either the fan base or the players with the thought that a certain player doesn't have the full support of their front office. This would be a special case, just like the Manning-Rivers trade, because part of the deal can already be expected to happen.

[Arky]

It's a possibility and I've heard radio already talking of this....

I like Mack but I'd rather have JFF than Bortles. Many are saying the Jags will probably nab JFF.....

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I think this is one of the most highly anticipated drafts in recent memory...

Anyone else notice the new draft dates in early May fall exactly between the SuperBowl and the first pre-season game? I think this is by design.....

Less than 2 weeks to go...

[painekiller]

The more I look at this, the less I like it. I consider there to be 4 elite players, and none as elite as Clowney. Mack is my 2nd highest guy, then Watkins, then Robinson.

Moving to 6, IMO means reaching for a QB, and missing on a more solid pick.

The trade will have to blow me away in order for me to pull the trigger.

[HPF Bob]

Depends on the compensation and also how big of a drop-off you have. In a deep draft where the 2nd and 3rd rounds have a lot of great talent, the chance to double the number of picks there is a definite consideration. Particularly since one of our top three picks is almost guaranteed to be a developmental QB who won't pay dividends for a couple of years.

And who/how many elites are there? Any Peyton Mannings? Any Lawrence Taylors? Any Adrian Petersons? Any Reggie Whites?

Honestly, I'm not even sure Clowney is in that company although I think he's the closest this draft has to offer.

So, if you are drawing your drop-off line at four, then don't trade lower than four. If you're drop-off line is six, don't trade lower than six. If your drop-off line is ten, don't trade lower than ten.

Personally, I'm at six (Clowney, Mack, G. Robinson, Matthews, Barr or Bortles). Watkins will probably be taken by somebody and, with any luck, Manziel and Bridgewater are taken to improve our menu of options.

(I've recently played the simulator with trading down to 8 but it keeps spitting out Mack when I do this and I think there's no way in hell Mack falls to 8 unless photos surface of him with Donald Sterling.)

But I don't want to fall to six unless the compensation gives me what I want which is either Atlanta's 2nd and 3rd or their 2nd this year and their first next year. I might okay the 2nd and 4th this year and a second next year. I just want to gobble up guys on the second day where the real value is.

[Nconroe]

Depends on ones draft board, one might want atleast one more draftee evaluated acceptable than position one trade for.

So I might have Barr in position 15 and consider any trade as low as position 14 depending on how many day 2 picks offered.

1. DE | South Carolina Jadeveon Clowney
2. OT | Auburn Greg Robinson
3. WR | Clemson Sammy Watkins
4. OLB | Buffalo Khalil Mack
5. QB | Texas A&M Johnny Manziel
6. QB | UCF Blake Bortles
7. OT | Texas A&M Jake Matthews
8. QB | Louisville Teddy Bridgewater
9. WR | Texas A&M Mike Evans
10. DT | Pittsburgh Aaron Donald
11. CB | Virginia Tech Kyle Fuller
12. FS | Alabama Hasean Clinton-Dix
13. OT | Michigan Taylor Lewan
14. CB | Oklahoma State Justin Gilbert
15. OLB | UCLA Anthony Barr

[chuck]

I've been hearing that the Texans are willing to wait until the fourth round to look at a quarterback. If so, I'm pleased because I'm not at all sure that the possible ceiling of guys who will likely be around in the fourth is that dramatically different from the possible ceiling of the three or four guys everyone's talking about as being the first quarterbacks off the board.